Hello Everyone!

Happy December Solstice, Chanukah/Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.

What a fantastic month of festivities!

Here's wishing you a joyful month as you celebrate your traditions, families and friends.

Looking forward to seeing you next year!

Peace and love,

Toni Robinson

P.S. Don't forget to visit us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/simsburynewcomers.org

Hello Newcomers and Neighbors!

The winter holiday season in New England offers picturesque views of homes, buildings, and landscapes tastefully decorated with bright, colorful lights, festive swags and wreaths of greenery, and candles alight in many windows. If you have lived in any other areas of the country as I have, you may agree that this area brings a warm and cheerful feeling as you take in these sights. Indeed, it makes one feel merry. It truly does look like a Norman Rockwell painting, come to life.

There are countless traditions of all faiths and backgrounds to celebrate. I send my warm wishes that Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and anything else that you celebrate with your loved ones, be filled with joy. So I say, Merry Everything to all of you! Off I go to "Deck the Halls" of my own home!

Christina

If you know someone who may be interested in joining us, let them know they may join at any time. Contact Sue or visit the website to pay the yearly $25 membership dues.

A $25 gift membership to Simsbury Newcomers & Neighbors is a gift of connection and friendship. If it would be perfect for someone on your list, you can contact Sue Gannon, VP Membership, for a customized gift card.

Seeking members interested in Events to join our newly forming Events Team (with option of coming onto the board). Without a team in place to plan events moving forward, having any events might be in jeopardy. Come join our team! Voice your ideas, volunteer to help. The success of our club events and the fun we all enjoy depends on all of us. Any questions or concerns, please contact Eileen Higham [email protected]

The new Events Team will meet December 2nd at 10am at Ana's.

If you're interested but can't make the meeting, email Eileen anyway.

Simsbury Social Services is collecting gifts for senior and disabled citizens. Items needed are toiletries (lotions, toothpaste, soaps, deodorant, toothbrush, razor, shaving cream, shampoo, powder, dry shampoo, floss); small gift cards to CVS, Fitzgerald's, Subway, stamps. I will deliver items to social services by December 9th. Contact me for pick-up (860-658-0675), or drop the items at my house (14 Gates Lane, Simsbury); or in the green box outside Wilmarth & Associates, 930 Hopmeadow Street, next to Ava Grace in Simsbury Town Shops.

Gifts of Love is holding a holiday toy drive. New, unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at Bill Selig's (next to Fitzgerald's) before December 15th.

The Simbury Loan Locker will launch on December 1, and will loan used and donated new Durable Medical Equipment. It will be located at the Apple Barn at Simsbury Farms, 60 Old Farms Road.

The Simsbury Historical Society will be holding ther Fourth Annual Adult and Child Holiday Party. The Jingle Bell Santa Tea Party will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Tea party sandwiches and desserts. Our craft for you is to make a Jingle Bell Santa. Adults $20.00, Children $10.00. Please RSVP (860) 658-2500.

Welcome to the Daytime Book Discussion Group! We meet at 9:30 a.m. the third Friday of every month. We enjoy lively but informal discussion about our book selections. Many copies of our titles are available through the Simsbury Public Library. Check at the front desk for books on hold for the Newcomers' Daytime Book Discussion Group. An email is sent out each month as a reminder with the book title, host, and reviewer. Don't forget to e-mail the hostess if you plan to attend so she can plan appropriately. Below is our book list and dates for the year.

Ladies' Daytime Bridge meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 1:00 p.m. Join us as a regular or substitute player. All bridge levels are welcome. Players take turns hosting. Email announcements are sent to the group prior to each playing week about sign-up and host location/information.

Welcome back, Newcomers and friends! Bunko is an easy dice game that you can learn to play in just a few minutes. No strategy or planning involved, just a lucky toss of the dice. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at a member's home for coffee and chit chat. Then we get down to business and play three games! It's a great morning full of laughs and surprises! Come join us. See you at sign-ups or leave a message for me at 860-408-9044.

Arlene Zappile

If you enjoy socializing, then we are the group for you! We are a co-ed group that meets a few times a year (3-4) at our members' homes on Saturday evenings. We are not a "couples only group"! All are welcome!! We will schedule the gatherings around the "SNN events", so as not to conflict. Please bring an appetizer or a dessert to share. Please bring your own beverages. Hosts may choose to have a theme for the evening and will provide paper goods and glasses. Contact Holly and Shaun Murphy to join this group.

Theresa's photo is forthcoming

Welcome Dining Out group to what we hope will be a year of interesting dining discoveries. We reserve at restaurants that accommodate separate billing. Seating is often limited, emails will be sent out with an RSVP deadline.

The Dining Out group will be gathering at the new location of the well established Metro Bis. Confirmations of the count must be made by Tuesday, so please RSVP by Monday, December 2nd if interested in joining us.

Date: Saturday, December 7th

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Metro Bis at The Ensign House

690 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070

Please RSVP to Theresa Roe at [email protected] or Katherine Estell at [email protected]

New England is filled with many scenic, historical and cultural attractions. Join fellow Newcomers as we explore our surrounding area. Events and places to visit will be suggested by those who sign up for the group. Some ideas include: tours of local landmarks, ethnic food shopping trips, home and garden tours, art exhibits, daytrips to the CT Shore or the Berkshires.

We have tweaked the mission of the Men’s Night Out. It has morphed into Happy Hour Social Club (not just for men!). We are now in pursuit of the perfect IPA, or some other craft brew delight, bourbon, vino, good conversation and food. We meet the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. (or earlier for those that can). This group is open to all!

The Ladies Lunch Bunch will celebrate their Christmas get together at:

Metro Bis

1593 Farmington Ave, Farmington

December 17th at 11:30 am.

The Mah Jongg Daytime group meets every Wednesday (except before a holiday) at Ana's Kitchen (next to Fitzgerald's), at 1:00pm starting October 30th.

RSVP to [email protected]

The Evening Mah Jongg group meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. We welcome players of all levels and are happy to teach anyone who would like to learn the game.

Mary Lou's photo is forthcomiing

One evening a month, we get together to go see the latest Silver Screen temptation. You can come by yourself, or you can bring your family and friends (or any part thereof). Sometimes, dinner is involved, sometimes just popcorn.

The group meets to see a movie at Apple Cinema in Simsbury once or twice a month on a Sunday, and discusses at the Simsbury Public Library, in the Tariffville Room, on the last Sunday of the month from 2-3pm.

A group of women who meet once a week to work on a variety of needlework projects and visit and share ideas. The needlework projects consist of needlepoint, knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch, and quilting. Besides needlework, some of the ladies work on card designing, Zentangles, beading and other small craft projects.

We meet at the library on Monday mornings. Attendance weekly is not necessary.

Carolyn's photo forthcoming

Paddle Tennis is similar to tennis, but played outdoors during the colder months on raised courts. In snowy conditions, the courts are heated to melt the wintry mix. We play November through March, using the courts at Simsbury Farms. The Mixed Doubles group plays on Sunday evenings (4:30 - 6), the Ladies play on Monday and Thursday mornings, and the Men play on Saturday mornings.

If you would like to play paddle and have played other racket sports, please contact the activity coordinators. The rosters tend to fill up by early October. Hope to see you on the courts!

Simsbury Farms usually offers Paddle lessons. Please check with their office for more information - 860-658-3836.

Welcome Couple's Paddle Tennis Enthusiasts!

The Simsbury Newcomers and Neighbors have sponsored a Couple's Paddle Tennis group for close to two decades! We meet Sunday afternoon from November through the end of March. The playing time is 4:30 to 6:00 PM. The lights are on a timer and turn on at dusk.

We enjoy a fun, social, round-robin format of play. Four couples are scheduled each Sunday afternoon; each couple can expect to play one to two times per month. Many of you know the drill. After a brief warm-up, play begins on both courts. After the first set is completed, the winners go to Court 1 (closest to the street) and split, forming new teams with the other winners. The second place finishers go to Court 2 (nearest the golf course) and also split forming new teams. This round robin format mixes up the players and abilities and makes it more fun.

The courts are a seasonal rental, so the cost depends on the number of players who sign up. It is usually around $100/couple for the season.

We are always looking to expand our group of players so if you know of anyone who is interested, please forward their contact information.

I'm looking forward to another great season! Please call if you have any questions.

Camilla T.

(860) 658-2038

30 Metacom Drive

Simsbury, CT 06070

If you like to play cards and would like to be part of an informal, social, and fun group of women, Pinochle may be the perfect activity for you. Pinochle is a card game that is easier than bridge, but still challenging enough to be interesting. Our members range from experienced to just beginning - and we are very willing to give lessons to anyone who is completely new to the game.

DAYTIME

We meet at 1 p.m., the first and third Tuesday afternoons of each month to play for two to three hours, but you do not need to play each time. We take turns hosting either in our homes or at library or community center rooms.

Sue Gannon is the activity coordinator and can be reached at [email protected] or 860-421-5009, and would be glad to answer any questions you may have.

EVENING

The Women's evening Pinochle group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 10 PM. Each monthly game is hosted by a different player, so location varies.

Judy Rabinowitz is the activity coordinator and can be reached at [email protected] or 860-658-9262.

The Single Active Women's group is a group for any single woman - divorced, widowed, or simply single.

Our group's purpose is to provide opportunities for single women to meet and make friends with other single women through our activities.

The group will have one planned lunch on the first Tuesday of each month. Other activities may also be planned each month. Members will be notified of these activities by email.

We also hope to give our members the opportunity to find friends to join them on activities they are interested in, and we may share activities that members are interested in doing with the group for that purpose.

The trees are almost bare and it's definitely getting colder, but we are still walking every day. I would recommend wearing mittens and a hat to start - you can always take them off once you warm up.

We meet everyday at the bus stop behind CVS at 9 am and walk 2-5 miles on the Iron Horse Trail. Once the snow falls, the walk is usually just 2 miles because part of the trail is not plowed. Just a reminder that we are all ages and paces and welcome everyone.

Contact Michele by text with any questions, and before your first walk to be sure we look for ya!

Wine and Women is a fun and casual group that meets once a month, at a member’s home, usually on the third Thursday night of the month. Everyone brings a bottle of wine or other beverage of choice and an appetizer or dessert to share. It’s fun to meet new members and reconnect with friends. We welcome members to join the group at any time during the year. And, of course, you don’t have to drink wine to enjoy an evening out with this lively crowd!

We will not meet in December due to the holidays. Our next event is on January 16th. We wish everyone safe travels and enjoy your time with family and friends!

SAVE THESE DATES: January 16, February 20, March 19, April 23, May 14, and June 12 (a Friday date for “Wine, Women and Guest”). Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to open their home to our group. We still need a host for June.